#SPINKTOUR day 2: Trains, taxis and rushing about a lot

To say that day two of #SPINKTOUR has been a bit all over the place, is like saying ‘A Game of Thrones’ is a bit long!

Although I would like to stress that the above statement has NOTHING to do with the wonderful authors we have on the tour year, or the superb organisation of team HC Kids!

The day started as it meant to go on, with myself, Mary and Nicola instructed to move train coaches because of a broken window. Although, I would just like to say that I was the only one to hear this message on the public address system (Tannoy is a brand name) and therefore the 8.15am from St. Pancras to Leicester departed with yours truly thinking I would have to be in 3 schools at a time all morning with 3 very annoyed authors. To my relief I soon got a text from Mary saying her and Nicola were in their original seats and was ordered to swiftly join them to provide the onboard entertainment (this last bit might have been in my head).

Then things took a turn for the worse…as we approached Leicester our train skidded to a stop and remained stationary for what seemed an eternity. Cue frantic calls to authors, cab companies and schools to inform them we’d be late. We were promised 5/6mins by the train company. It turned out to be 20. Luckily, our authors are a smart bunch and navigate their own way to their schools, with the (super organised) HC staff trailing behind. Mary and Nicola were in cabs like a whirlwind, leaving me waiting for my booked taxi…and waiting…and waiting. Uh-oh. Despite being THE MOST ORGANISED PERSON IN THE WORLD (TM), I’d booked my cab on the train. Of course it didn’t show up. So I booked another…and waited…and waited. Double uh-oh! Apparently I’d been spotted by my new cab driver in the front seat of a rival company! UTTER LIES! So I had to book a third taxi to take me to the event. Which I made…in time. Well, with 10 minutes left!

It’s lucky for me that Sian Pattenden is brilliant and had her group in the palm of her (magical) hand when I arrived. The event (so I heard) went great and we were soon zipping off to our second school, where the weather was so good we did it outside! Imagine that, al-fresco author events.

Then it was off to meet up with fellow #SPINKTOUR authors Sarwat Chadda and Sarah Lean. The glamour of life on the road took us to Costa for a quick sandwich and a drink, before heading to the third and final school of the day for the joint event. Once again, a flawless performance from our ace authors meant loads of kids went away with smiles of their faces, signed books and hopefully some inspiration.

So to round off day two, we went to meet the movers and shakers of the publishing world in Leicester, then chowed down on a delicious curry. A great end to manic day!

Finally, a huge thank you to Forest Lodge Primary, Stokes Wood Primary, Caldecote Community Primary, Knighton Fields Primary, Avenue Primary, Montrose Primary and Granby Primary for making us all so welcome!

Tom

Photos from #SPINKTOUR day two.